When the RAF was formed in 1918, Great Britain boasted the largest air
force in the world, but it was not to last. As soon as the armistice was
declared, a rapid disarmament began. After a period of austerity, the
surplus military aircraft formed the basis for civil aviation as we know
it today. More people learned to fly, and pioneering individuals began
to break down barriers and set records leading to a demand for
purpose-built commercial, touring, racing and passenger aircraft.
During the 1930s, the RAF boasted an array of beautiful silver biplanes,
which soon gave way to more sleek monoplane fighters and medium-range
bombers ready for the imminent war in Europe. This period is often
referred to as the 'Golden Age of Aviation', and this book aims to
capture that spirit. Exploring many significant British aircraft types
that were active between World Wars One and Two, with the focus on
modern-day survivors and replicas, this volume tells the story of how
aviation changed during the period. Covering both civil and military
aircraft types, the story is told using over 200 high-quality images of
surviving, replica and restored aircraft.